While planning your Super Bowl party, beer is most likely at the top of the grocery list.

But beware: beer in the keg can be a foamy experience. How disappointing to lay out bucks for keg-draft beer only to find the true meaning of "suds" at home.

There are ways to avoid this conundrum:

No. 1: Avoid rough handling. Kegs are armored aluminum and seem tough but this beer hates to rock and roll. If you're bringing a keg home in a car trunk or pickup truck, secure it with bungee straps.

No 2: Plan ahead. Kegs transported under the smoothest of conditions need a rest before tapping, at least two hours to settle down. A heavily jostled keg may need up to a day.

No. 3: Keg beer usually is unpasteurized, read "draft," and is kept between 35 and 40 degrees at the distributor. It must be within this range or it will spoil. Keep it on ice while transporting long distances and half bury it in a tub of ice while serving. Without the chilling, you'll get foamy beer.

No. 4: Never over pressurize a keg. Resist the temptation to over pump it. Stop as soon as a steady flow resumes.

No. 5: The first draws from a fresh keg probably will be thrown out because of excessive foam. This is a good sign — you haven't been sold a flat keg.

OBLIGATORY CAUTION

There's only one constant rule: The more you drink, the more dangerous you are behind the wheel. The best strategy is to have a non-drinker drive.